Mikko P. Haataja

Mikko P. Haataja is a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Director of Graduate Studies at the Princeton Materials Institute, Princeton University. He leads the Haataja Group, specializing in theoretical and computational approaches to materials science and physical biology. His office is located in D404C Engineering Quad and he can be contacted at mhaataja@princeton.edu or (609) 258-9126.

Education:

• Ph.D., Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, McGill University, 2001
• MSc, Electrical Engineering, Tampere University of Technology, Finland, 1995

Research Interests: Professor Haataja's work spans microstructure evolution during phase transformations, electrodeposited thin films, quantum heterostructures, lipid raft organization in cell membranes, and driven interface dynamics. Recent breakthroughs include dynamically programmable electromechanical 2D materials that enable strain-induced phase transitions in transition metal dichalcogenides for NEMS/MEMS applications. His group also pioneers research on intracellular phase transitions, investigating how biomolecular condensates regulate cellular organization through phase separation mechanisms.

Publication Trends: Analysis of recent articles (2017-2024) reveals two dominant themes: 1) Biomolecular phase separation in cellular environments, exploring nucleation kinetics, mechanosensing, and optogenetic control of condensates; and 2) Advanced 2D materials engineering, focusing on defect-mediated phase programming, strain relaxation mechanisms, and electromechanical properties of transition metal dichalcogenides. Computational methods span atomistic simulations, phase-field modeling, and continuum theory.

Laboratory Leadership: The Haataja Group develops multiscale computational frameworks to study materials physics and biological organization. Current projects include modeling amyloid fibril growth, liquid-liquid phase separation in constrained environments, redox instability in fuel cells, and twisted crystal growth in organic semiconductors. The group maintains strong collaborations with experimentalists for model validation.